transplanting seedlings from flats?

[SmokeStack]

I have read that seedlings are ready to transplant after they have grown 4 to 6 inches in height. I started my seeds in flats of 72 cells – 8 flats in all. I have noticed that some of my seedlings (Yellow Orinoco) have reached a certain height (around 1 to 2 inches) and stopped growing and the bottom leaves have started to yellow. A couple of days ago I transplanted 25 of them to 3 inch terra-cotta pots and now they are growing well again. It seems that the root system was too large for the flat cells. My question: Should I transplant all seedlings from the flats into small pots before transplanting them into the ground?

I would not mind doing that but considering that I have about 576 seedlings – it would be a large undertaking. I originally thought that the seedlings would reach 4 to 6 inches in the flats – now I am concerned that the small seedlings in my flats may not survive the transplant process.

 

[BigBonner]

Are these home made trays ?
How deep is your water ?
Fertilizer used in your water ?

Pick up a tray and look to see the roots hanging out the bottom in the water , Let us know what they look like .

 

[SmokeStack]

-I used plastic trays made by Jiffy (72 cells per flat).
-At the moment, the tray has no water but the soil is moist. I fill with about 1/2 inch of water when the soil surface begins to dry.
-I did not use any fertilizer. I used Jiffy seed-starting soil only.
-Some root fibers are beginning to emerge from the bottom of the cells.
Here are some photos...

This is one of the first trays I planted. In this case these plants are Italian Bright Leaf (ars-grin.gov PI 292195). It is hard to tell from the photo but some leaves are beginning to yellow. They grew to this size about 2 to 3 weeks ago and then stopped growing. This is supposed to be a fast growing variety and requires 50 days until harvest.
-Marco

 

[FmGrowit]

Are you top watering or adding water to the tray the flats are in? If your leaves are yellowing, add a teaspoon of Epsom Salts to a gallon of water and give it to the plants.

The Epsom Salts will increase the sulfur, but it also helps make available whatever nutrients are left in the Jiffy mix. The plants will green up in two days.

 

[Chicken]

i like to move mine from the starting tray,,, to a styrofoam cup.. to continue growing,, until they are big enough for the garden..

6 inches is asking a lot,,, for them to be left in those starting trays,

 

[BigBonner]

1 Your starting soil has run out of fertilizer
2 Roots hit bottom and this will stop them from growing .

In regular float trays they are 2.5 inches deep and roots will hang out of the bottom of the float tray about three inches for plants of that size .

This is why they started growing again , fresh soil with fertilizer in it and more room .

My opinion

 

[Daniel]

I agree with the root space. Tobacco wants room to plant it's feet. I keep my starts in those small cells only until they are 4 weeks old. they then either go to 6 inch pots or into the ground.

 

[SmokeStack]

I used Don's suggestion of adding Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate). I am not sure whether to use Epsom Salt as a regular fertilizer. Has anyone used fertilizer for seedlings in general? For example, something like All Purpose Miracle Grow (12 - 4 - 8)?

 

[Tom_in_TN]

I had a few flats where the leaves were starting to yellow a bit. Made up a very, very weak fertilizer solution with 10-10-10. About 1/2 teaspoon in 64 ounces of water. The yellowing disappeared in about 2-3 days and they are growing again.

 

[Boboro]

I'd put im in the ground if I could. I put plants in the ground at 2" or 3" cause I a' nt going to put a few hundred plants in cups .

 

[Tom_in_TN]

I'm with you, Boboro and would love to get some of my plants in the dirt but it won't stop raining long enough. We got a good soaking a week ago and now keep getting daily afternoon showers. This pattern should end in a few days and I can start plugging them in the dirt.

 

[NRustica]

If they're that tall why not put them in the ground or are you still under threat of frost in Detroit?

 

[SmokeStack]

According to Victory Seeds, the frost date is May 12 for Detroit. But my farm is a little north of Detroit and definitely a little colder so it is customary to plant on Memorial Day weekend.

 

[johnlee1933]

Memorial Day is the approved date here too (Southern CT).

John

 

[Chicken]

good luck to all my northern brothers,,,,

i hope memorial day is a fine sunny day, for all of you to drop your plants in the ground,,,

 

[wazzappenning]

memorial day sounds right for here as well. as for the size of the plants, jack in nb was telling me that they can go in the ground at an inch high if thats all theyve reached by planting time. he said they start to take off as soon as theyre in the ground.

 

[BarG]

memorial day sounds right for here as well. as for the size of the plants, jack in nb was telling me that they can go in the ground at an inch high if thats all theyve reached by planting time. he said they start to take off as soon as theyre in the ground.

I could plant mine when there 1-2" and I have in a protected area, but there would be a higher loss rate due to weather extremes and insects, there a lot more vulnerable. The bigger they are the tougher they are. A couple extra inches could make all the difference during a rainstorm or heat wave. When temps start looking to be sustained over 90 degrees most of the day I hope their strong enough to take the heat and sunburn. Mine are that size and out doors uncovered in a dappled sun location as long as I can till my ground and weather conditions warrent planting sooner. My ground is perfect now, we have been cloudy and drizzlin rain 2 days prior so I'll chance some of the older plants in the next couple days.

 

[jeapadrenaline]

My last frost date is may 22 or 25 depending where i look. Hope the weather co-operates so i can plant out on june 4, full moon. I need to take advantage of the lunar phase, sin e first frost comes early september if i'm lucky. But chances of frost also happen june and august let's hope for the best.

 

[Chicken]

i can u.p.s. you some sunshine if you'd like,

we have plenty enough to share here in the '' SUNSHINE STATE'',,,,

 

[wazzappenning]

its coming soon and i still have to get soil samples and turn my soil, mine is a pain, the grass keeps creeping back in with those long roots that get caught in everything. and then most of my garden will be new broken lawn this year. ive got a gas line in there somewhere so not sure ill get to put a rototiller in there.